Obama campaign to air first Democratic ads in state

JEFFERSON CITY — Barack Obama may soon be appearing on television screens in Missouri.

Obama’s campaign says it plans to begin airing ads Saturday in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and mid-Missouri TV markets. The Democratic presidential candidate is the first to do so in advance of Missouri’s Feb. 5 primary.

But he’s not the only candidate focusing on Missouri.

Democrats John Edwards and Hillary Clinton plan to visit St. Louis on Saturday for campaign events.

Obama’s ad was announced by Sen. Claire McCaskill and Auditor Susan Montee, his two most high-profile supporters in the state. They say it will focus on health care.